Bangladesh and Pakistan are preparing to hold a Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) at the level of foreign secretaries in Dhaka on Thursday, the first of its kind in almost 15 years.
According to a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch will arrive in Dhaka on Wednesday to head her country's delegation for the discussions, as reported to BSS on Tuesday..
The Bangladesh delegation at the FOC will be headed by Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, and the meeting will occur at the Padma state guest house.
The official said that although no specific agenda has been set, both sides are likely to cover all areas of mutual interest during the discussion.
He noted that Pakistan sees an opportunity to expand its exports to Bangladesh, particularly if their products are offered at competitive prices, with cotton being a primary item of interest for supply.
The envoy pointed out that with Pakistan functioning as a passage for goods from Afghanistan and Iran, Bangladesh has the opportunity to look into imports via Pakistan, assuming that transport costs stay reasonable.
Concerning direct air connectivity, High Commissioner Khan stated that in addition to Fly Jinnah, another private Pakistani airline, Air Sial—based in Sialkot—has applied to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) for permission to operate flights to Dhaka.
“Fly Jinnah is currently in the midst of fleet expansion before it can start its services to Dhaka, whereas Air Sial is anticipated to launch direct flights within two months of obtaining the required approvals,” he mentioned.
The establishment of this direct air route is expected to enhance tourism and encourage more interpersonal connections between the two countries, the diplomat highlighted.
When discussing the ongoing historical disputes between the two nations, the high commissioner remarked that while these issues are often found in global bilateral relations, they should not impede current interactions or economic collaboration.
During her visit to Dhaka, Foreign Secretary Baloch is likely to pay courtesy visits to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain following the FOC on Thursday.
Furthermore, Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, is set to travel to Dhaka later this month.
This will mark the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister since 2012.
““We are in the process of confirming the date, but it is expected that the visit will occur during the final week of April,” stated the official from the foreign ministry.
The most recent FOC between Bangladesh and Pakistan took place in 2010.